Description of organisation

Ruskin Mill College is part of the Ruskin Mill Trust and was established over 30 years ago to provide specialist education to young adults with complex behaviour, learning difficulties and disabilities.
Ruskin Mill College is located in the Horsley Valley in the Cotswolds, which is designated as area of outstanding natural beauty in the South West of England. Since it was founded Ruskin Mill College has grown to encompass two historical wool mills, acres of hillside woodlands, Gables Farm, and the world’s only biodynamic fish farm.
The College offers a varied curriculum and the activities are aimed to improve communication, social, work and life skills of the students. They provide placements for up to 70 students, aged between 16 and 25 years old, who have learning difficulties and disabilities and more complex learning needs. Activities provided include practical land-based activities such as agriculture, animal husbandry, fish farming, woodland management. Students also learn traditional crafts which stem from the cultural history of the area, with such sessions as weaving and felting, green woodwork, animal husbandry, and metalwork in the Iron Age Forge. At the farm students grow biodynamic food which they prepare meals at the canteen as well as selling through the farm shop. Students also have the chance to develop skills through a number of social enterprises at the college. In all activities the students are learning to live in harmony with the environment while developing on a personal level.